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Nienhagen
District of the town Moringen
Nienhagen is located at a narrow side valley at the foot of the Weper, roughly 4km west from the central village. It is one of the so-called Weper villages. Most the village population makes their living from agriculture. The farmers are known for the stone rich soil. Professor Sohnrey, well known beyond village borders taught here in the village from 1879 - 1886. On the Weper, ca. 2km west of the village stretches a glider area, hardly used today. It has seen special flying highlights in 1962/1963. and there is a holiday-home area.
Nienhagen was first mentioned in the register of the court Moringen, spelled 'Nigehage' in 1448. Another village spelling can be found as 'Nigenhagen' in around 1519/1520. From ca. 1542 onwards the village spelling stayed as it is today. Nienhagen is not one of Moringen's older villages. village names ending with '-hagen' didn't exist before the 12th-century.
This village probably originated in its founding time, located in extensive woods, as a branch of the stud farm belonging to castle Moringen. Stud farms had as we know watch towers to protect the valuable horse herds. Later these watch towers were replaced by massive fortifications, also used as chapels.
This distinctive old fortified church characterised the villagescape Nienhagen still today. It was probably built around 1300. Roughly the same style fortification church, originated probably at the same time, can be found in Oldenrode. After the destruction (1583) of the village Crumele (situated ca 2km west of Nienhagen), due to the Hildesheim monastery feud village Nienhagen experiences a surge in growth. In later times, Nienhagen's citizens were called 'Krummel-Erben', due to accepting parts of the Crumele population.
After the Thirty-Year War, which caused a population restructering, most of th epeople worked in farming.
During the time of the Napolonic occupation all youn men in the community were forced to do military duty for the Westphalian army, the enemy. So some young men from the villages also took part in Napoleon's campaing against Russia. Only one man from all the Moringen villages returned from Russia. The rider Friedrich Bierkamp, who took part in Napoleon's entry in Moscow as well as the terrible battle of Berezina near Borissow. In spring 1814 he returned home to then take part at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. From there he returned home healthy.
